2013 Bonanza Bird #30: Rufous-necked Wood-Rail

July 30, 2013 in Birdorable Bonanza 2013 and Rails with 8 comments

It looks like yesterday's bird, the Least Bittern, totally got photobombed by a Rufous-necked Wood-Rail! How often does that happen? Our 499th Birdorable species and second-to-last 2013 Bonanza bird is the Rufous-necked Wood Rail!

Rufous-necked Wood-Rails are usually found in coastal habitats in parts of Central and South America. However, one day earlier this month, birder Matt Daw had an interesting experience while making a video of a Least Bittern at a National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. Have a look at the photobombing wood-rail that sent the birding world into a frenzy:

Rufous-necked Wood-Rail, Bosque del Apache NWR by Matt Daw

News of Daw's rare sighting spread like wildfire among the birding community and visitors came from all over the United States to see the wood-rail. American Birding Association president Jeffrey Gordon recorded an interview with Matt Daw which you can see here: Interview with Matt Daw, finder of the New Mexico Rufous-necked Wood-Rail. And the famous sighting also got coverage on a recent episode of CBS This Morning.

Tomorrow our 2013 Bonanza will conclude with Birdorable species #500. This once-abundant species will have an important but sad anniversary next year. Join us tomorrow as we reveal our 500th cute Birdorable cartoon bird!

Comments

Oscar on July 30, 2013 at 3:58 PM wrote:

Passenger Pigeon :( Any plans for more extinct birds?

Birdorable on July 31, 2013 at 12:35 AM wrote:

We do already have the Great Auk, Labrador Duck, and Dodo. :)

Jays and Kestrels on September 14, 2013 at 9:35 PM wrote:

what about ivory billed woodpecker?? ;(

Jays and Kestrels on September 14, 2013 at 9:36 PM wrote:

birds r cool :>

Louise Warner on February 23, 2017 at 4:12 PM wrote:

passenger pigeon. easy!!!

Louise Warner on February 23, 2017 at 4:12 PM wrote:

passenger pigeon. easy!!!

Louise Warner on February 23, 2017 at 4:15 PM wrote:

what went wrong? all i did is wrote: passenger pigeon. easy!!!

Spurwing Plover on September 24, 2025 at 6:54 PM wrote:

BIRDS RULE

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